Everything You Need To Know to Elope in Colorado

From the wild adventurers and nature fanatics to the craft beer lovers:

Colorado has something for everyone.

How Do You Elope in Colorado?

I completely understand that planning a wedding in a location you may not live near or even visited before can be completely overwhelming. It doesn’t have to feel that way!

That’s where I come in; Meet your adventurous elopement photographer. I’m a nature obsessed photographer, elopement guide and future best friend who is dedicated to helping you document your love story and the wild adventures that come along with it!

I will guide you step by step on how to elope in Colorado by using my ultimate elopement planning guide and checklist. We will start at the imagination stage so you can give me an idea of exactly how you imagine your perfect wedding day. From there I will help you coordinate with other wedding vendors and even help you find the perfect location for your Colorado elopement.

My goal is to help alleviate any stress that comes along with planning an elopement or adventurous wedding.

So, if you’re wondering things like “where should I say my vows”, “how do I legally get married in Colorado” or “I don’t want to hike, but I want epic views”, then I have great news for you.

I am here to help you with EVERYTHING!

Free Resources on Adventurous Elopements

9 Best Places to Elope in Colorado

From 14,000 feet alpine mountains and high plains to the tallest sand dune in the United States. There is plenty to explore in Colorado no matter what your adventure level is. 

Rocky Mountain National Park

Great Sand Dunes National Park

Lake Isabelle, Nederland

Maroon Bells, Aspen

Guanella Pass, Georgetown

Mt. Blue Sky Scenic Area, Idaho Springs

Loveland Pass, Keystone

Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs

Brainard Lake, Nederland

Secret Spots In The Backcountry

Read The Blog Post

Common Questions About Eloping in Colorado

Easily accessible elopement locations will likely be very busy on weekends. If you can make a weekday work in your schedule – I highly suggest it. Colorado is a very beautiful, highly visited (and sometimes over-loved) state. Many hikes have so much traffic that you now have to obtain a permit just to hike it. I’ve run into 10 mile long traffic jams hours from Denver literally just due to yellow Aspen leaves (queue Kenosha Pass).

If you can’t swing a weekday, chat with your photographer or call the local National Forest office to obtain more information on how busy a certain location may be.  Sunrise may be another option if you want seclusion in a highly trafficked elopement location! It all just depends on where you’re getting married.

If you’re looking for warmer days – then stick to June 1st through the end of September. Keep in mind that you will likely see snow at higher elevations even through summer depending on how much snow we had during the winter. I’ve also seen snowstorms the first week of September in Denver.

It’s very typical to see late afternoon showers on a daily basis during the June/July early August months. In most cases, they roll in and out very quickly. I’ve learned to just tough it out because the most beautiful light (and sometimes rainbows) almost always follow after the storm.

Long story short – Plan accordingly and hope for the best. Clear dome umbrellas look beautiful in photos!

I mostly photograph weddings on National Forest or Bureau of Land Management land, which may or may not require a permit depending on the jurisdiction or protections on a certain environment. In most cases, National Forest and BLM land has a group limit or 12 – 15 people TOTAL. Due to this, I highly recommend renting a space if you plan to have above 12 – 14 guests. The last thing you want is a Ranger to requesting you to leave right during your ceremony!

Many State/National parks in Colorado have dedicated space for small weddings with less than 25 guests that you can obtain a permit for, so I would start there if you plan to have more than 14 guests.

Absolutely not! If you plan it right, eloping in Colorado can be very cost effective and much cheaper than a traditional wedding. You can even skip the venue costs entirely just by choosing to elope in the Colorado mountains.

Colorado is one of the few states in the US that allows couples to get married without an officiant or a witness. What does this mean for you? Cost savings and easier planning! This gives you the freedom to do awesome things like take a helicopter ride to the top of a mountain to say your vows.

You do not need to be a Colorado resident to get married in the state. All you need to do is appear before a county clerk with the proper identification, pay the $30 fee to obtain the marriage license, and sign and return it within 63 days. You can even get married the same day you pick it up!

Click here for more information on the exact requirements to officially elope in Colorado

Two words: Heck yes, as long as you are not eloping in an area that is not dog/pet friendly. What a lot of people don’t know is that your dog can be a witness! What I mean by that, is your dog can literally put their paw print on your marriage license on the witness line. How cute is that?!

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What Does It Look Like to Elope in Colorado?